Electrical cable connector



Filed July 3, 1951' INVENTOR. John Ku cmar March 30, 1954 Patented Mar.30, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CABLE CONNECTOR JohnKacmar, Gary, Ind. Application July 3, 1951, Serial No. 235,035

2 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical cable connectors and has for itsspecific purpose the function of permitting large cables to be connectedand drawn up, tautly.

An important object of my invention is to provide a cable connector ofthe aforementioned character, which comprises two cable clamping unitsthreadably engageable by a coupling having a turnbuckle function; thesaid cable clamping units being provided with male and female electricalcontact engaging portions, so as to make a secure electrical connection.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cable connectorof the aforementioned character, wherein the cable clamping units areprovided with resilient male contact means in one of said clamping unitsengaging female contact means in the other of the said cable clampingunits, so as to form a rigid and suitable electrical connection.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in cableconnectors, sectional body and cap elements provided with grooved,serrated, or knurled engaging surfaces for rigidly clamping the multiplewires of a cable.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electrical cableconnector made up of a few elements and parts so that it will lenditself to manufacture economically, in quantity production.

Other objects and advantages, inherent in my invention, will becomeapparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, bearingfurther elucidation in the ensuing description, wherein like numeralsare utilized to designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevational View of my cable connectorinvention.

Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of one of the cable clamping elements.

Fig. 3 is an end View, thereof.

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 1, showing a cap element secured to aclamping unit in clamping relationship with a cable made up of amultiplicity of wires.

Fig. 5 is a top elevational view of the mating cable clamping unit.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the turnbuckleconnection for tautly securing the two cable clamping units.

Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a modified form of electrical contact.

Fig. 8a is an end view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of my invention roughened, as indicated at2| for showing the cable connector caps removed therefrom, also showing,by portions being broken away, the way the electrical contacts makeelectrical connection as well as the method in which the cable wires aresecured in rigid clamping relationship.

Referring to the various views, my invention is generally designated IDand consists of a cable clamping element H, a mating cable clampingelement 13, and a threaded nut adjusting unit designated l2.

The cable clamping unit designated ll, consists of a cylindrical bodyportion 39, having a stepped formation ill, and a slotted formation Fll, transversely of the said stepped formation 46.

At the lowermost portion of the slotted portion 4i, emanate two clampingears 42, each provided with suitably threaded holes as indicated at 53.

The mating cap 43 is partly cylindrical in configuration and is providedwith the serrated portion, internally, designated 46.

Clearance holes in the lugs 44, which are placed in superimposition overthe lugs 42 and located in place by virtue of the slotted portion 4| arefirmly held in place by the fillister head screws 5 I.

The cable 48 has some of its strands stripped of insulation so that theymay be clamped, as indicated in Fig. 9.

The mating clamping unit 13 consists of a cylindrical body portion M,having an undercut portion I 6, a slotted portion I 8, and a pair oflugs [1, having threaded holes as indicated at IS.

The said clamping unit is also serrated, or rigid clamping relationship,with the insulation stripped wires 49, and is adapted to hold inassembly the cap 2|, similarly to the manner in which cap 43 isassembled and being further provided with lugs 22 and clearance holes 23to receive the fillister head screws 24.

The body [4 of the mating clamping unit I3 is provided with a drilledhole 25, at right angles to the bore l5, through which a pin 54 isassembled to hold the pin contact element 26 in rigid security with themating clamping unit l3 by virtue of drilled hole 21.

The pin contact element 26 is provided with an enlarged shoulder portion28 fitted within the counterbore 35, terminating in threads 33 cut inthe body 34 of the threaded nut means I2.

It will be noted that the terminal portion 29 of the electrical pincontact element 26 is slotted, as indicated at 32 and 3|, the slotsbeing cut preferably in right angular relationship in order to form theresilient sections 30 to fit, frictionally and firmly, within the socket31 of clamping unit ll. Clamping unit H is provided with an extension 36having a threaded portion 38 to engage the threaded portion 33 ofelement 12, and the body 34 is preferably knurled on the outside so whenthe same is rotated, to the right as indicated by arrow 52, it will tendto bring the clamping units H and [3 toward one another; thus, taking upthe slack in the attachment of cables 41 and 48, subsequent to theirclamping within the said clamping units H and i3.

In operation, cables 41 and 48, to be connected, have their endsstripped of insulation in order to bare the wires 49 and 59, which areclamped by virtue of the caps 2i and 43, firmly in place.

The threaded nut 12, having threaded portion 33, is then caused toengage the threaded portion 38 simultaneously contacting frictionallyand electrically, by virtue of sections 39 of contact 29 entering theconfines of the bore 37, the threaded nut l2 being subsequently rotatedin a direction of the arrow 52 until the slack between cables 41 and 48is completely taken up and adjusted.

Another form of contact is exemplified in Figs. 8 and 3a, whereby itsterminal contact portion 5 which fits into the bore 31, is not slottedand is i'riotionally fitted to the bore 31.

Thus to attach cables 41 and 48, the following procedure is resorted to:each cable has a portion of its insulation cut away to bare the wires 49and '59, respectively; the caps Q3 and 2| are loosened by virtue ofloosening screws 2 and El; cable wires 49 and 58 are inserted in therespective clamping units indicated and the caps 2| and 43 are securedfirmly in place by means of the screws 24 and 5|, clamping the wires 49and 50 firmly between the serrations 48, 55 and 28, so as to form asubstantial and rigid connection, then the threaded nut element 12 isthreadably attached, by means of its thread 33 engaging the threadedportion 38 and ultimately rotated in the direction of arrow 52 in orderto take up the slack and form a good substantial rigid electi'icalcontact.

Having thus disclosed and revealed my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Adjustable electrical cable connector means, a:

comprising a cable clamping unit adapted to hold in rigid electricalconnection an electrical cable, a mating clamping unit adapted to holdin rigid electrical connection another electrical cable, and threadedmeans interconnecting the said units and adapted to draw th said unitstogether, the said cable clamping unit being provided with a reducedthreaded extension havin a contact socket at the terminus thereof, acooperating pin contact element secured to the said mating cableclamping unit provided with an enlarged shoulder portion, the saidthreaded means being provided with a female threaded bore engageablewith the said reduced threaded exterior, and further provided with anabutment rotatably fitted about the said enlarged shoulder portion,whereby the said units are drawn together by rotation of the saidthreaded means.

2. Adjustable electrical cable connector means, comprising a cableclamping unit adapted to hold in rigid and releasable electricalconnection an electrical cable, a mating clamping unit adapted to holdin rigid and releasable electrical connection another electrical cable,the said clamping unit being provided with a reduced male threadedextension having an electrical contacting socket at its terminus, athreaded element removably securable to the said reduced threadedextension, an electrical pin contacting element having an enlargedshoulder portion intermediate its ends, one end thereof being fixedlysecured to the said mating cable unit and being also rotatably securedto the said threaded element, the free end of the said pin contactingelement being cross-slotted to afford electrical contacting resiliencythereto in order to fit frictionally within the said electricalcontacting socket resulting in effective electrical contactsimultaneously permitting adjustment between the said clamping unit andthe said mating clamping unit without disturbance to the flow ofelectrical current.

JOHN KACMAR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

